Do I Prep after Sanding Deck? 5/5 (1)

Clean after Sanding Deck?

Yes, after sanding, it is suggested to lightly clean and brighten the wood. This will help open the wood grain so the stain can dive even deeper into the wood. Better penetration = better stain performance!

Key takeaways

After sanding, lightly clean and brighten the wood to open the grain for deeper stain penetration.
Better stain penetration leads to better overall stain performance on your deck.
Sanding removes raised wood fibers left behind from power washing and opens the wood pores.
Use the correct sanding grit of 60 to 80 for best results on a wood deck.
A higher sanding grit can make the surface too smooth, closing down the pores of the wood.
Closed wood pores make stain absorption harder and can lead to premature stain failure.

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Sanding Deck Tips

Sanding removes any raised wood fibers from power washing and opens the pores of the wood to assist in soaking in the stain or sealer. It is important to use the correct sanding grit on your deck. The recommended sanding grit is 60 to 80. This is because a higher grit could make the deck too smooth, and will close down the pores of the wood. Closed pores make it more difficult for the stain to be absorbed and could lead to premature stain failure.

More Tips on Sanding A Wood Deck

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Scott Paul ~ Restoring Wood & Decks Since 1993 Owner

As an article and comment contributor to the site, Scott has been around the pressure washing industry since attending college. In 1993 he started his first company called Oakland Pressure Wash specializing in exterior pressure washing and deck staining. That company evolved into OPW L.L.C. shortly thereafter concentrating more on exterior wood and deck restoration. Scott and his Deck Cleaning Michigan company have restored over 10,000 decks in the Metro Detroit area since the early years. He has become an authority in the deck restoration industry and has contributed to numerous wood restoration forums and informative sites. All the products he suggests through this site are sold through online sites and in retail stores, allowing the consumer to choose their own means of purchase. Scott’s eCommerce sites do sell many top brands he endorses and if you appreciate any of the help he has offered then feel free to purchase from one of them.

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